His personal best for the shot put was a New Zealand national record for 44 years, before it was beaten by current New Zealand Olympian Jacko Gill in 2011.<\/p>\n
Mills opened his first gym in Auckland in 1968, catering for a small community of athletes with a focus on basic strength and cardio training.<\/p>\n
He has described the space as \u201ca basement gym so small and ill-equipped that it had alternate days for men and women to visit\u201d.<\/p>\n
He was married to Colleen Maree Mills, who died in 2005, before remarrying, his wife Florence Mills surviving him.<\/p>\n
Mills had two children with Colleen, Donna and Phillip, with Phillip currently serving as founder and executive director of Les Mills International.<\/p>\n
In the 1973 Queen\u2019s Birthday Honours, Mills was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire, for services to sport.<\/p>\n
After missing out on selection for the 1974 Christchurch Commonwealth Games \u2013 where he would have joined Colleen and two children, who were also athletes \u2013 Mills called time on his lengthy career in 1975.<\/p>\n
After finishing his sporting career, Mills became national sports director in Papua New Guinea from 1977 to 1979.<\/p>\n
Les credited his wife Colleen as being a tireless and inspirational full-time Mayoress, saying her determination, support and community spirit was the driving force behind his three terms as Mayor of Auckland City.<\/p>\n
Ten years later, Mills served as the Mayor of Auckland City from 1990 to 1998.<\/p>\n
Mills was the first full-term Auckland City Mayor after the 1989 amalgamations, when 29 territorial councils were reduced to seven plus a regional council.<\/p>\n
Major events during Mills\u2019 tenure included work commencing on the America\u2019s Cup Village at the Auckland viaduct, the commencement and opening of the Sky Tower and SkyCity Casino complex that now dominates the Auckland skyline, the redevelopment of the Civic theatre and the refurbishment of the Auckland Town Hall.<\/p>\n
In the 2002 Queen\u2019s Birthday and Golden Jubilee Honours, he was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to local government and sport.<\/p>\n
Once Mills retired, he limited his appearances in public life, although he did suffer multiple health problems.<\/p>\n
In 2018, Mills spoke out about his heart surgery in support of an Auckland exhibition titled Brave Hearts, in which he underwent an advanced procedure called Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI).<\/p>\n
At the time, Mills credited the surgery with saving his life, after being told he had to have surgery urgently or he would die.<\/p>\n
Tributes flow<\/p>\n
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown said the news was sad to hear.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnother t\u014dtara has fallen. My thoughts are with his family,\u201d Brown said.<\/p>\n
Auckland Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson shared a statement on Facebook following the news, and said it was \u201cvery sad to read that Les Mills has passed away aged 91 years\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cGyms and Commonwealth medals aside, he needs to be acknowledged for his work as mayor of Auckland City Council (pre-amalgamation) from 1990 to 1998,\u201d Simpson said.<\/p>\n
\u201cDuring his tenure Auckland City Council started the America\u2019s Cup Village \/ Viaduct redevelopment work, which later transformed the waterfront.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat period also saw the development and opening of the Sky Tower and SkyCity complex during his mayoralty. He also brought in Auckland\u2019s green wheelie bins for rubbish collection and introduced water charges to encourage more efficient water use. <\/p>\n
\u201cCondolences to his family and thank you for your service to our city.\u201d<\/p>\n
New Zealand Olympic Committee chief executive Nicki Nicol said Mills\u2019 contribution to sport in New Zealand will be well remembered.<\/p>\n
\u201cLes Mills set a standard for what it takes to represent New Zealand at the Olympic and Commonwealth Games. He competed at four Olympic Games and is a five-time Commonwealth Games medallist, exemplifying the consistency and commitment he showed to Athletics throughout his career,\u201d Nicol said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur thoughts are with the Mills family and those close to him. His place in New Zealand\u2019s Olympic history is firmly established and no doubt his legacy will continue to inspire.\u201d<\/p>\n
Commenters on the Les Mills New Zealand Facebook page also shared their condolences.<\/p>\n
One wrote: \u201cMet and worked for Les in mid 80s while he was alive, big stature of man but gentle soft spoken. He inspired a lot of people to get into fitness including me\u201d.<\/p>\n
Another wrote: \u201cThat\u2019s so sad. Such a beautiful man who created a global legacy. I was a part of the legacy at one stage in my life working for Les Mills. My condolences go out to the family xx\u201d.<\/p>\n
Former Prime Minister Helen Clark wrote on X: \u201cRIP Les Mills: a major contributor to #NZ<\/a> through local government, #sport<\/a>, & business. Les represented NZ in shot put & discus at four Commonwealth Games winning five medals & was in NZ team at four Olympics. He was Auckland Mayor & founder of Les Mills gyms.”<\/p>\n Tom Raynel is a multimedia business journalist for the Herald, covering small business, retail and tourism.<\/p>\n